House GOP Weighs in on McKinney Incident

AP on Yahoo ^ | 4/4/06 | Laurie Kellman - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - House Republicans pushed a resolution Tuesday commending the Capitol police force for professionalism after a confrontation between an officer and Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney.

"I don't think it's fair to attack the Capitol Police and I think it's time that we show our support for them," said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a sponsor of the measure. Ignoring a police officer's order to stop or hitting one "is never OK," McHenry said of the incident, which has exacerbated partisan tensions in the House.

Last week, McKinney had an argument with a uniformed police officer as she sought to enter a House office building. The officer did not recognize her. She refused his order to stop and struck him.

McKinney says she took action in self defense after the officer "inappropriately touched" her.

A spokesman for the congresswoman did not immediately respond Tuesday to a reporter's request for comment on the GOP measure.

The six-term Georgia Democrat says the issue is not about whether to obey a police officer's order, whether she hit him or the fact that she was not wearing the lapel pin that identifies members of Congress.

Her lawyers have said that a series of confrontations between McKinney and U.S. Capitol and White House law enforcement officers who don't recognize her points to a pattern.

"The issue is racial profiling," McKinney, who is black, told CNN Monday.

The resolution being introduced Tuesday came as McKinney awaited a prosecutor's decision on whether to press any criminal charges against her. The Capitol Police on Monday sought an arrest warrant by turning over their investigation of the incident to U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein.

The measure put forward Tuesday, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., would not specifically mention McKinney or the confrontation, McHenry said.

Instead, sponsors said, it would commend the Capitol Police for their professionalism and recognize the challenge of protecting the vast Capitol campus from terrorism and other threats while keeping it open to tourists.

"Every day they exhibit honor, courtesy and professionalism," Diaz-Balart said in a statement.

McKinney says that has not been her experience. She says Capitol Police officers have a long history of failing to recognize her and asking for identification — a pattern she says is racist and in any case highlights a security problem in one of the most well-guarded buildings in the country.

McKinney has drawn little support from her House colleagues, particularly Democrats who are launching an election-year campaign that revolves around the party's commitment to national security.

Her lawyer, James Myart Jr., issued a statement on Friday saying several members of Congress would join McKinney at a press conference on Friday at Howard University.

None did. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton issued a statement of concern about the incident and urged the parties to come to an agreement. A spokesman for Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he has no comment.

McHenry, who at 30 is the youngest member of Congress, said he is routinely stopped by Capitol Police and asked for identification.

"When I'm not wearing my pin, I am always stopped," McHenry said in a telephone interview. "I accept that as a due course of security."

[NormsRevenge]

Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) speaks at a news conference after an altercation with a Capitol Hill police officer earlier in the week in Washington March 31, 2006. McKinney is waiting to learn if she will be charged for apparently striking an officer after she entered a House office building earlier this week unrecognized and did not stop when asked. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

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Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., gives a thumb-up during a news conference in Atlanta, Monday, April 3, 2006. Black clergy and lawmakers came the defense of McKinney during the news conference. Capitol Hill police have referred a scuffle between one of their officers and McKinney to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington. (AP Photo/W.A. Harewood)

[NormsRevenge]

McKinney has drawn little support from her House colleagues, particularly Democrats who are launching an election-year campaign that revolves around the party's commitment to national security.
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Life is so unfair. It had to happen in an election year, po' Cyn'.

[End_Clintonism_Now]

To Be Posted At Every Capitol Hill Entry Point:

[Kuksool]

Mckinney could have defuseed the incident by apologizing to the officer. But no, she had to play the race card.

Gotta love that "GOP culture of corruption".

[BMC1]

I am so tried of every time a black person gets in trouble they claim racism and other blacks stick up for them no matter what they do. I have mo sympathy for them at all.

It's time for them to take responsibility for their actions and learn to get along with the rest of the people in this country. If they can't and they think they are so special, then they should move to Africa where they can drop the American part and just call themselves African.

They are no more special than anyone else so, stop WHINING and learn to get along or leave.

[boomop1]

Let's face she is a race bating nitch. I say nitch that is.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

as soon as the "investigation" ends, the tape(s) will be subject to FOIA, unless charges are actually filed.

[Mo1]

ping

[samadams2000]

Extract her by force like the cancer she is from that chamber.

[Huck]

I think you mean biche. I mean niche.

[jazusamo]

It is interesting that not one single member of the Congressional Black Caucus has come forward to support her. I guess they think she's nuts too.

[proxy_user]

The Republicans are a bunch of dummies. They don't know when to keep their mouths shut and let the Dems do the talking. This is certainly an occasion when that would be smart policy.

[libs_kma]

If that biatch is going to whine this much over an "inappropriate touching", then next time, "inapropriately-whack-her-over-her-empty-noggin-with-a-billy-club", and make it worth watching her play the race card.

[llevrok]

The issue is racial.

Blacks are realizing they are losing their status as the majority minority.

Expect more of these outbursts in an attempt to re-charge the plantation before Jose takes it away.

[Smedley]

Note to GOP:

When one of your more wacked-out opponents is self-destructing, shut up and let them do their thing.

Smed!

[The Old Hoosier]

From December 2002:

[Fmr. Rep Cass] Ballenger, of Hickory, said he felt similar sentiments dealing with Rep. Cynthia McKinney, a Georgia Democrat known for her liberal politics and combative personality.

"If I had to listen to her, I probably would have developed a little bit of a segregationist feeling," he said. "But I think everybody can look at my life and what I've done and say that's not true. ... I mean, she was such a bitch."

McKinney, who lost her re-election bid, could not be reached.

[jaydubya2]

How can anyone defend her actions. What an idiot!

[P-40]

not one single member of the Congressional Black Caucus has come forward

I do applaud them for that. There are some serious incidents of racism in this country...and this isn't one of them. By validating her "complaints" they would be doing a disservice to those that are truly victims.

[BlueStateDepression]

Her lawyers have said that a series of confrontations between McKinney and U.S. Capitol and White House law enforcement officers who don't recognize her points to a pattern.

Yes, a pattern of not wearing her proper Identification.

She expects people to remember over 500 faces in an instant but she does not expect herself to remember to wear a pin that ID's her in order to avoid conflicts she had in the past???????

Sounds like do as I say rather than do as I do.

I hope to see her charged and covicted because if I hit a cop I know I would be charged and convicted.

[boomop1]

You're right lol.